US 12,419,391 B2
Ground-engaging structures for articles of footwear
Michael S. Amos, Beaverton, OR (US); Thomas G. Bell, Portland, OR (US); Lysandre Follet, Portland, OR (US); Thomas Foxen, Portland, OR (US); John Hurd, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Shane S. Kohatsu, Portland, OR (US); Troy C. Lindner, Portland, OR (US); Geng Luo, Portland, OR (US); Adam Thuss, Portland, OR (US); and Andrea Vinet, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/989,365.
Application 17/989,365 is a continuation of application No. 16/915,486, filed on Jun. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,533,968.
Application 16/915,486 is a continuation of application No. 15/575,888, granted, now 10,702,021, issued on Jul. 7, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/033557, filed on May 20, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/165,659, filed on May 22, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0104760 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A43C 15/16 (2006.01); A43B 1/00 (2006.01); A43B 5/06 (2022.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/22 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 15/165 (2013.01) [A43B 1/0009 (2013.01); A43B 5/06 (2013.01); A43B 13/122 (2013.01); A43B 13/223 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ground-engaging component for an article of footwear, comprising:
an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and
a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim and at least partially across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area, wherein the matrix structure defines:
a first set of adjacent open cells extending completely through an entire thickness of the ground-engaging component and including at least three open cells that are substantially aligned in the forefoot support area along a first line extending in a forward medial-to-rear lateral direction, and wherein each of three open cells of the first set of adjacent open cells that are substantially aligned along the first line includes: (i) a sharp bottom ridge extending completely around that open cell, (ii) an upper opening having a curved perimeter with no distinct corners, and (iii) sloped sidewalls extending between the sharp bottom ridge and the upper opening, and
a second set of adjacent open cells extending completely through the entire thickness of the ground-engaging component and including at least three open cells that are substantially aligned in the forefoot support area along a second line extending in a forward medial-to-rear lateral direction, wherein the second line is spaced forward from the first line.